Pitchfork attachment.



c. A. DUPREYQ PITUHIOBK ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 190B.

Patented Jan 19,1909.

TH! NORRIS PETERS can, wAsHmcmu, n. c.

CHARLES A. DUPREY, OF MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

PITCHFORK ATTACHMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. Dormer, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mount Clemens, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Pitchfork Attachments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to an attachment for a fork and more especially to a fulcrum frame adapted to be detachably secured to an ordinary field or stable fork more especially designed for handling manure.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a fork provided with an attachment embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the fork and attachment in operative position. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the attachment removed from the fork. Fig. f is a view in detail of a clip securing a fulcrum plate in place. Fig. 5 is a view in detail of a modified form of fastener.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the handle and 2 the tines of a fork of usual construction.

A pair of rods of spring metal have inbent loops 3 near their upper ends which are hooked together. The arms above the loops are bent upwardly and curved to form oppositely disposed spring jaws 4 adapted to embrace the fork handle 1, the extremities of the jaws being formed into eyelets 5 adapted to receive a bolt 6 by which they may be clamped around the handle. The rods diverge in a plane oblique to the handle below the loops 3 as braces 8, and at some distance from the loops are upturned in parallel relation in a plane approximately parallel to the handle in which position they are maintained by a foot plate 9 secured by clips 10 engaging the rods, one arm of each clip passing through an aperture in the plate and being secured therein by a nut 11. This plate bears on the ground when the fork is in operative position. The rods extend upwardly from the plate to the heel of the fork, the legs 12 thus formed being normally slightly convergent. At their upper ends they are formed into horizontal inturned, alined spiral springs 14 adapted to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 20, 1908.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Serial No. 439,546.

slip over the outer tines, the convergent legs forcing the springs inwardly on the hori zontal part 15 of the tines against the inner tines, while the end portions 16 of the rt ds beyond the springs are formed to pass by each other and hook over the fork tang. By this arrangement, a very light, rigid fulcrum is provided which is readily adjusted to any ordinary fork, the plate clip nuts and handle bolt being the only fastenmgs which have to be set up in attaching the device.

As shown in Fig. 5 the rods may be bent into loops 17 which are bent to form spring jaws adapted to embrace the fork handle, an appropriately shaped clip 18 hooking over the lower ends of the loops, and the upper free ends having eyelets 19 for the clamping bolt 6, as before.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination with a fork, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring rods hooked together near their upper ends and bent beyond the junction into a spring clip embracing the fork handle, the rods extending obliquely and divergently below the junction braces and having foot portions substantially parallel to the fork handle, a footplate removably secured to the foot portions the rods extending convergently upwardly beyond the plate to the heel of the fork and having spiral convolutions engaging the horizontal portions of the outer fork tines, and the extremities of the rods passing by each other and hooking over the fork tang.

2. The combination with a fork, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring rods hooked together near their upper ends and bent beyond the junction into a spring clip embracing the fork handle, the rods extending obliquely and divergently below the junction as braces, and having foot portions substantially parallel to the fork handle, a foot plate, clips engaging the foot portions bolted to the plate, the rods extending convergently upwardly beyond the plate to the heel of the fork and having spiral convolutions engaging the horizontal portions of the outer fork tines, and the extremities of the rods passing by each other and hooking over the fork tang.

3. The combination with a fork, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring rods hooked together near their upper ends and bent beyond the junction into a spring clip embracin g the fork handle, the clip ends being bent into eyelets, a bolt passing through and securing the eyelets, the rods extending obliquely and divergently below the junction as braces and having foot portions substanr tially parallel to the fork handle, a foot plate removably secured to the foot portions, the rods extending convergently upwardly be yond the plate to the heel of the fork and having spiral convolutions engaging thehorizontal portions of the outer fork tines,

and the extremities of the rods passing by each other and hooklng over the fork tang. 4. The combination With a fork, of a pair of'oppositely disposed spring rods hooked together near their upper ends and bent be yond the junction into a spring clip embracing the fork handle, the clip ends being bent into eyelets, a bolt passing through and securing the eyelets, the rods extending obliquely and 'divergently below the junction as braces and having foot portions substantially parallel to the fork, handle, a foot plate, clips engaging the, foot portions bolted to the plates, the rods extending convergently up Wardly beyond the plate to the heel of the fork and, having spiral convolutions engaging the horizontal portions of the outer fork tines, and the extremities of the rods passing by each other and hooking over the fork tang,

5. The,combination With a fork, of a pair of'oppositely disposed spring rods hooked together near their upper ends and bentbeyond the junction into a spring clip embracing the fork handle, the rods extending obliquely and divergently below the junction as braces and having foot portions substantially parallel to the fork handle, a foot plate, U-clips each embracing the rods and having a screw threaded arm extending through an aperture-in the foot plate, anut thereon securing the clip, the rods extending convergently upwardly beyond the plate to the heel of the fork and having spiral convolutions engaging the horizontal portions of the outer fork tines, and the extremities 45 of the rods passing by each other and hooking over the fork tang.

6. The combination With a fork, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring rods hooked together near their upper ends and bent beyond the junction into a spring clip embracing the fork handle, the clip ends being bent into eyelets, a bolt passing through and securing the eyelets, the rods extending obliquely and divergently below the junction as braces and having foot portions substantially parallel to the fork handle, a footplate, U-clips each embracing the rods and having a screw threaded arm extending through an aperture in the foot plate, a nut thereon securing the clip, the rods extending convergently upwardly beyond the plate to the heel of the fork and having spiral convolutions engaging the horizontal portions of the outer fork tines, and the extremities of the rods passing by each other and hook ing over the fork tang.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

CHARLES A. DUPREY.

Witnesses OTTO F. BARTHEL, C. R. STIOKNEY. 

